Jet Airways has tied up with Thalys, a high-speed train operator between Brussels and Paris, to help its passengers use the rail service instead of a connecting flight to reach the French capital faster.
The airline’s first air-rail code service started on October 30 from Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi.
A passenger can take the Thalys train from Brussels to reach Paris Nord in 1.47 hr compared to nearly 5 hr by taking a connecting flight, said Mr T.R. Giri, Regional General Manager of the airline. No other Indian airline has such an international air-rail combination service, he said.
Every day, Jet Airways operates flights from Chennai to New York; Delhi to Toronto and Mumbai to Newark with the flights reaching the transit hub Brussels in the morning to help passengers take the train to Paris Nord at 9.46. There is a similar arrangement in the return direction, he said.
On the first two days of starting the service, every day ten passengers from India opted for the air-rail combination. The airline expects at least 25 passengers every day to Paris from the south alone, he said.
Mr John Victor, Sales Manager for Jet Airways, said passengers can book a combined air and train ticket between Paris and India or US and Canada via Brussels through travel agencies or through the airline’s Web site.
The inaugural return fare between Chennai and Paris is Rs 33,000, and the offer is valid till December 31, he said.